National Grief Awareness Week is observed from Dec.2 to Dec.8 to raise awareness and support those going through personal losses.
Many times, people genuinely want to help someone in grief, but a lack of knowledge about the process and uncertainty on how to communicate effectively can hold them back from offering support. This week, let’s get some valuable insights from experts on how to help someone who is grieving.
Jessica Eiseman, a certified counselor and owner/clinical director of Ajana Therapy and Clinical Services in Houston, Texas, defines grief as a rollercoaster of emotions experienced by someone after losing something or someone important.
According to Eiseman, it is a completely normal experience that takes a person through stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
“Grieving is intensely personal, and no one should determine what is ‘grief-worthy’ for another. There are also many underlying layers of grief. It is also important to note that grief is not a linear process. We can think of it as waves that come and go. No two people will grieve the same way, and each person’s timetable for healing will differ,” Eiseman told Medical Daily.
Factors that influence grieving
A person’s response to an individual’s death may be affected by many factors, including the age of the person grieving, relationship with the person who has died, cause of death, cultural background and belief systems. An individual’s financial situation, health, and extent of support from family, friends and community can also affect the response.
How is grief different from depression?
According to Jessica Rabon, a licensed psychologist from South Carolina, grief and depression may be difficult to differentiate because of certain overlapping symptoms such as extreme sadness, sleep difficulties, loss of appetite and irritability or anger.
“Grief is the emotional response one experiences after a significant loss. Although depression may also arise from a loss, depression…
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